A Biblical Perspective on the Syrian Refugee Issue
Commentary by Chris Connelly
[Editor’s Note: Along with Daniel Crane, Chris Connelly is co-host of the Christian Patriots Radio show which airs live on Mondays & Thursday evenings from 7PM to 8:30PM Eastern Time. It can be accessed at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/christianpatriotsnetwork]In light of the war taking place on Syrian soil, many contentions across national borders have produced increasing collateral damage. Unique though is the reverberating turbulence manifesting in the far reaching and hotly-debated policies being considered US regarding that collateral damage; specifically the thousands of displaced refugees.
As this issue becomes increasingly divisive it has drawn various ‘biblical opinions’ many which lack true biblical context when examined against the entirety of scripture. One famous scripture that is continually being quoted is this.
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48) (KJV)
While the words of Yeshua resonate some important facts that we should consider and incorporate into dealings with Isis and fundamental Islam as a whole, it must be stressed that passages as previously stated nowhere require us to lay down our lives to our enemies as many are suggesting. This inference is becoming increasingly toxic and must be corrected with the entire counsel of the word of God. So the question becomes what is our obligation to the foreigner outside of the understanding just found in this verse and verses similar? The answer to that question can be found in Israel’s foreign-policy given to them by God himself. Leviticus 22:22 states: “Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.”
As many appear to exhibit their outer righteousness in a policy of acceptance towards all, we must question is this truly biblical and wise? Reviewing this brief section of Leviticus we see Gods wisdom displayed for us today.
In The book of Exodus the story of Israel’s journey out of Egypt preludes the giving of God’s law, but in that journey as God brings for the nation out of bondage it’s realized then at one point Israel themselves were foreigners in a foreign land and even recorded in the Scriptures. Exodus 22; Leviticus 19. The Scriptures also set forth the element of mercy that Israel is to have towards the foreigner in exhibiting God’s love as He has exhibited to them and removing them from their bondage. Why is it important? And why is that relevant for us?
The main point is this, while we take our examples and we learn from Israel and how to deal with being a nation that will please God, we understand our obligation to the foreigner is to show mercy and not to oppress them. But there is also an obligation that the foreigner has to us that many are leaving out, that obligation is found in Leviticus chapter 22:24 that they must submit and we all must be under one law but the question is what law is that? To those that would argue for the allowance of mass refugees coming into our land from a biblical perspective this cannot be denied nor neglected. This also is the very reason why we have a biblical mandate not to allow it to be so. Understanding the dynamics of a mass influx of refugees and Islam’s adherence to sharia law I would propose as a safety check that we should still extend mercy to those who would seek refuge in our country but under the condition they denounce sharia law. Reality shows that this will not happen. What is even more important is to express why it will not. It will be for the simple fact that sharia law does not recognize the rights of a constitutional republic, which in fact, we are in this country. Keeping this in mind it would literally be nationalistic suicide for us to open the gates and would undoubtedly open us up to a takeover and further attacks. We’ve already seen the precursor in France.
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